Ocean Salmon Seasons Set by Pacific Fishery Management Council

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has set the 2011 salmon seasons for ocean waters off California. Ocean recreational seasons will be as follows:

The Klamath Management Zone from the Oregon border to Horse Mountain will be open from May 14 through Sept. 5.

The waters from Horse Mountain to Point Arena will remain open through Oct. 30.

The waters from Point Arena to Pigeon Point will remain open through Oct. 30.

The waters from Pigeon Point to the United States/Mexico border will remain open through Sept. 18.

All zones have a daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon and a minimum size limit of 24 inches. No take of coho salmon is allowed.

The PFMC also set commercial seasons. Information on these seasons, quotas, minimum size and gear restrictions can be found on the PFMC Web site at www.pcouncil.org.

The California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) will meet on April 21 to review and conform ocean seasons and size limits in state waters to the new federal rules. The FGC will also set the inland salmon seasons at this time. The FGC sets all seasons in California inland and coastal waters extending three miles out.

The FGC will discuss and vote on a proposal that mirrors the dates adopted by the PFMC for ocean salmon seasons but may include additional gear and size restrictions. The proposed general sport fishing regulations and gear restrictions, along with maps of each area, can be viewed at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/salmonsport11.pdf.